A Dash Of Red

Twelve

Henry reached for the doorknob. Beth watched as if everything was in slow-motion. Something inside her didn't want Henry to ever open that door. Like the letter had said, the town was dangerous now. 

Henry turned the knob.

The door creaked open.

A chorus rang out from where Henry was standing like a flock of happy birds. Everything sped up like a tape. Like music streaming over the radio waves, and it was joyous. 

"Father!" Henry threw his arms around his daughter.

As they parted, Beth stood up to see her daughter, the hood of her red cloak hanging off the back from her neck, her blue eyes sparkling and her heart-shaped face smiling as it seemed that was what it was made for.

"You!"

"Mum!" Lara ran over to her mother and embraced her. The red cloak smelled damp, and much like the town. It had been there all along, soaking the area in and becoming part of it. 

"Lara, I love you, but how did you get here?" 

"I got here a long time ago, much earlier this year you know..."

"Why didn't you?"

Beth made a large pot of tea for everyone so they could sort it out. 

Lara explained, "My husband and I thought it would be funny if I came here from London, you know. I wanted to surprise you a bit — really I wanted to see you, but we also wanted you, to you know come visit us. I started sending you letters. Or sticking them under your doormat, really. Anyway, I really held back on showing myself. I met Maggie and Arthur and stayed with them in exchange for cooking and the like. It was nice. After awhile I thought it would be a little awkward to show myself. That is when I met Mr. Nolan. His wife was pregnant, and he spent a lot of time drinking at the pub. He was worried about the life of a father. Clair wanted a part-time job and was thinking of leaving Nolan with the kid. Nolan didn't want the responsibility. He would tell me about this and then get all crazed. I soon decided I should stop visiting the pub, and that whatever this man's intentions were. They weren't safe. Anyway, he made up this funny story about me, (after I'd told him about my red cloak) and told  the police. They cleared him and started suspecting me as the murderer. It was Mr. Nolan. I tried to argue but they believed in him better because he was the 'victim' so I really had to hide. I really couldn't show myself to you now because I didn't want your involvement. So I stayed hidden, of course that's why I sent that letter—"

"What letter?" Beth asked.

"Father can explain later — anyway, that's it. As soon as we get me cleared and Mr. Nolan caught, we can go stay in London a bit and get away from all this. It isn't easy you know." 

There was another knock on the door.

"Oh dear." said Beth.